Hackney: London's Hipster Paradise

Situated in northeast London, Hackney is often considered to be one of the city’s main creative hubs, a district filled with markets, music and delicious food galore. The boundaries of the Borough have fluctuated over the decades, and so too has the locals’ conception of what defines Hackney. As well as the former Metropolitan Borough of Hackney (sometimes referred to as Hackney Proper), a broader understanding of the area also includes the smaller Metropolitan Boroughs of Stoke Newington and Shoreditch.

One thing that has become clear in all of these neighbourhoods over the last few years, is that they are the home of the London hipster. The term ‘hipster’ originated in the 1950s and 1960s, with words like ‘hippie’, as young people began to rebel against societal expectations in the post-war period. ‘Hipster’ then became increasingly used in the 2010s for young people who made alternative fashion choices and took a particular interest in niche hobbies like craft beer and knitting.

Although today it’s often used with a slight tone of mockery, there’s still something noticeably and wonderfully hipster about Hackney. Its proliferation of art galleries, microbreweries and speciality cafés are a delight to visit, for locals and tourists alike. It’s a relatively green part of London to visit too, having been named London’s greenest inner-city borough and a great borough for cyclists.

Where to Stay in Hackney

Nobu Hotel London Shoreditch was the first Nobu hotel to open in Europe, easily spotted thanks to its unique, ultra-modern exterior. The brand’s Japanese origins aren’t overt in the design, but still visible in a consistent minimalism that runs throughout the property. While other parts of the hotel draw some inspiration from its Shoreditch surroundings, it also feels separate from it – a self-contained little world away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Alternatively, opt for a stay at Virgin Hotel London Shoreditch, which has a stripped-back warehouse style that's more characteristic of the area than it is of the typically more maximalist Virgin Hotels brand. Take in the views on the heated rooftop with a cocktail, or as you swim in the pool, before going downstairs to dance the night away in the 'Ibiza-inspired' nightclub. Just a few steps away from your room, Dani García’s BiBo serves flavourful Spanish tapas in a stylish setting – perfect if you’ve had a long journey.

Day 1

Once you’ve fuelled up for the day, it’s time to explore. Shoreditch is full of small businesses from vintage shops to cat cafés; Aida, APC and Modern Society are just a few of the spots not to miss. For a taste of the niche shopping options in the area, the London branch of French outlet Le Colonel offers unique bow ties, ties and braces crafted in Lille. If it’s a Sunday, have your camera at the ready for the Instagram-friendly Columbia Road Flower Market for a wonderful sensory experience. Alternatively, get to know the area through a tour of the local street art.

Dinner

A similarly well-priced and Italian-inspired option is manteca, which began life with pop-ups in Mayfair and Soho. Now in a bright, stylish building on Curtain Road, manteca’s sustainable ethos means they employ nose-to-tail cooking and prepare everything in-house. Take their in-house salumeria, for example, with salumi made on-site from British rare breed whole pigs.

Finally, One MICHELIN Star Brat has been a key player in the development of London’s restaurant scene in recent years. A Basque-inspired approach of cooking over fire is applied to produce of superb quality, and the scent of charcoal fire as you enter will awaken your stomach. The restaurant’s name comes from the Old English word for turbot, with whole turbot one of their specialities.

Day 2

Afterwards, head just north of Broadway Market to the outdoor pool at London Fields Lido. While the weather in London can be temperamental, at least the water at the Lido is heated! Make sure to book beforehand as outdoor swimming is extremely popular among Londoners. If you’d rather stay dry, then a walk around London Fields will do just fine.

Next, it’s time to refuel with lunch at Planque, a bold restaurant framed by two railway arches. The apparent simplicity of their dishes hides a complexity complemented by wines from small-scale and low-intervention producers. Alternatively, head to the locally beloved Pophams bakery and grab a pastry and some sourdough to keep you going.

If you’re feeling more hands on, then instead of buying your sourdough, why not learn how to make your own an E5 Bakehouse workshop? There, you can also discover how to weave a basket (perfect for shopping in Hackney’s markets) with experienced weaver Femke.

If all of this isn’t hipster enough for you, then you can’t go wrong with a visit to Hackney Church Brew Co. Here, they make the most of having their own grain mill by producing delicious craft beer – the nectar of hipsters everywhere.

To round off the day’s activities, spend some time at Hackney Museum, where you can discover the people who have shaped the Borough over the millennia from Anglo-Saxons to refugees from the Second World War. The exhibitions chart Hackney’s development from a retreat for the nobility in the Tudor period to a centre of the Victorian textile industry (echoed by the area’s many vintage clothing shops) to the hip Borough of today.

Dinner

If you’re visiting from outside the UK, then you can’t come to London without experiencing a good British pub. Take the overground from London Fields to Stoke Newington to arrive at The Clarence Tavern, where the 19th Century building fuses with some contemporary touches to keep the place feeling cool and modern. Hearty portions of delicious pub fare – like chicken, leek and bacon pie – plus a good selection of natural wines make this one of London’s best dining pubs.

After an early dinner, 18th Century Abney Park Cemetery makes for a great spot to finish your evening. It hosts live music events and (if you come back in the daytime) even ‘soil séance’ sessions to tune into the frequencies both above and below ground.

Day 3

Dinner

For dinner, you're in for a sustainable treat. Silo is considered to be the world’s first zero-waste restaurant and is the recipient of a MICHELIN Green Star. A strong zero-waste philosophy extends throughout the restaurant, from their fermentarium downstairs to the upcycled furniture that populates the interior. Special mention goes to their ‘siloaf’ bread made using flour milled in-house, and the subsequent ‘siloaf ice cream sandwich’ for dessert.

So there you have it. Whether you’re a hipster or not, Hackney has plenty to offer visitors, and plenty for them to eat too.

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